Machine for sealing ampoules and the like



Jam 1950 J. F. KAHLENBERG ETAL 9 MACHINE FOR SEALING AMPOULES AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l 195% J. F. KAHLENBERG ET AL 9 3 MACHINE FOR SEALING AMPOULES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arron/vs)" V Patented Jan. 3, 1950 NITE'D STATES PATENT QFFICE 22,493,0to v MACHINELFOR-SEALI-NG'AMPOULES AND "THE iLIKE James '1 Kalflenberg and iler-man "H. Kazhienherg, Sarasota, Fla

Application Novembcr 24, 1947, serial Nantes;

and a gas burner torch to which the carrier com a V ys the ampoule's ann'submits them to suchtoro'h for sealing by heat. There have been 'dev'elcmeii inthe ar't variou's means 'for cooling the ampouies, as by a continuous stream of water 'iiushing the carrier; or cooling current of air after the heating and sealing are 'efie'cted; forms of "torch or burner'in which the flame sweeps in waves across the am-poules in -an upward 'sl'ant, or by which the tops thereof 'are heated by separate successive applications "of'heatto the same ampoule cumulatively; devices for step-carrying the 'ampoul'es at fixed intervals to the burner and holdin each one there for a fixed uniform ,periOd of time "for sealing; none of which expedien'i's have we found desirable "to embody in our machine; nor the recently "advanced niechanismsfor gripping and twisting the ampou'ie tops in sealing, in 'iieuof manual manipulation as customary.

The object "of our present invention is to provide a sealing machine which will reduce the amount of mechanism requires for the performance *oi'i'ts functions, to "an irreducible minimum somewhat more in consonance with the lightness of the task involved, so that much of the com piioated and costl machinery employee in' some of the better grades or apparatus may be his penseu with altogether. Many laboratories -iio too little'o'f this worlzof fillingampoules'to buying a large and expensive apparatus for the final step'of Sealing, with added excessive oper'atiil'e and maintenance personnel and upkeep, and have continued, or reverted to, wholl man; ual sealing by such burner a1one;- a ithoug h with a. proper imaohine both :grea'ter eifioiency, one for-mity, certainty, and vastly ftewer spoiled ampoules can be attained. :It is our purpose to produce a machine in which these actv antalge's can be achieved, in which the i'eliabi lifiy'of effective mechanism shallbe combined with the use of the ':l iredtive brain, initiative-judgment and experience of the operator; in which there shall be no out and driedseal in'g time dictated by the machine regardless of the faiet'tl rat correct-seabin time varies largely with each amponl'e seah ing in which tnesame -mintl that nemiesthat .2 v the a'mpoule is completely sealeil, shall also have determined. how long to continue that-sealing operation'; in whichv more efi'eotiveiprovision s'h'all beimade for avoiding deleterious overheating or the ampo'ule, preventing vaporization of con tents, formation of bubbles in the 'glass While sealing, with consequent leakage, and sipoilagaa major cause, of r'e'jects and loss; a machine which will comprise so few parts and motions that any- 1 one who knows what he'wishes "to do with the ampoule can readily learn to operate it, and entrust its operation to another easily instructed for occasional handling in the absence of the regular workerj and in which certain ofthe features heretofore usedfin such sealing machines which We deem unnecessary or undesirablemay be wholly eliminated; all within a 'cost that will perm-iti ts wise acquisition by small laboratories unjustified h'i'ther'to 'in'purchas'ing more elaborate equipmentj With these and other subordinate objeots'in View, our invention consists inia machine in first all the usual machinery, iorrota'ting the amp'oiile-carrier by connections between the cartrier-shaft and the motor-shaft, all mechanism operating directly upon the said carrier itself to rotate it in any way or de ree, are altogether e'l uninated permanently from our machine, the carrier is thus initially left entirelyfre'e of all forces acting upon its turning, and concomitantly is Without any restraint of such mechanism 'ii p'on its rotation, can be spun around freely 'by a finger-touch of the hand, almost e'ftoitless'lyupon its ball bearings, and noes not actually operate to rotate sain carrier until the arnpoules are inserted in their places therein, and iioes not continue to operate when they "are removed there from, .but automatically ceases to tum, by the absence of saidampmqiles therefrom, a single mechanical instrumentality being "devised to rotate the amp'oul e 'in its recess "or socket while being heated anti sealed, and just prior thereto; and thereby con equently to rotate the carrier which =bri'ngs the 'amponle to the "burner and "conveys "it off after sealing, the rotatory motion 7 imparted to the ampoules being in "part translated into rotatory motion of-s'aid c'a-rfier by Triction of the ampoules with I the-skies of the recesses or sockets inwhich they "ii'ejseco'nii, mbot'lis means "for simultaneously retaining the am-poetics in situ during such rotatory motion thereof ami for adequately engaging the tuner siaes of said recesses so as to efiectually convert such rotatory motion direotly applied to the ammonites in-t'o rotaltory motion of the eather, without loss of stationery at its top at the termination of the operation of sealing by the operator during said; moment and during said amplified rotation of its main body as stated; fourth, comprises an improved system for heating the scalable top of the ampoule by the gas burner flame projected across its rotating surface at one angle from the torch to soften the same to a pliable and fusible consistency, while at the same time an air jet is fixed to project across at a preferably opposite.

angle and directed upon a .point below the seal- I able top, as the neck of the ampoule, to interpose a cooling agent of whatever strength is needed (and this the operator, or the owner of the machine who employs him, can determine), not only after the sealing operation to harden the glass. as sealed, but during the heating of its top, to maintain such temperature condition of the body of the ampoule as will restrain its contents from overheating; vaporizing, forming glass bubbles and rejects, yet not so low as to create too great difference between top and bottom and thus cause cracking of the ampoule with like spoiling; fifth, provides means permitting the lifting out of the sealed ampoules after sufficiently cooled to touch, as well as means for automatically removing all that are not manually lifted out and replaced with others right after sealing; sixth, eliminates all necessity for a mass of separate vertical shafts, one for each ampoule, holders, rollers, and other machine elements; seventh, contains so few elements that there is little or nothing to get out of order, or require replacement except small matters.

Our invention further consists in the novel general construction, arrangement and combination of elements and parts which enable us to dispense with such undesired or unneeded mechanism and complication as hitherto required by this class of machines, and which create the greater efficiency, smoothness of operation, quickness and quantity rate of sealing, lowered rejects, lowered initial cost of both the machine and its maintenance and, operative expense, simplicity and fewness of separate parts, ease of their assemblage and finishing, handling and portability of the device, durability and indisposition to get out of order, which characterize our said invention as demonstrated in its actual practice.

While'its very simplicity negatives largely any great range of alterability without sacrifice of some of its objectives, we have found some minor 7 variations possible and there may well be others Worthy of adding, or some equivalent modifications. We are presenting in our drawings and this specification what we have after experiments,

determined to be the preferred embodiment of our invention, which we deem to embrace any and all structures falling within the purview thereof, as expressed in. our statement of its objects and specific essence hereinabove outlined, and as hereinafter more fully described, and both broadly and particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings formin part hereof, in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of our newly-invented machine, ready for operation.

Figure 2 is a similar plan view, with the upper plate of the carrier removed, with the addition of the chute for carrying off the sealed ampoules, and with the gas blast, air blast and belt mechanism omitted.

Figure Sis a side elevation,-partly in section, thecarrier being shown in a central vertical cross section through said carrier on the line 33 of Figure l, with belt pulleys omitted.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of part of said carrier, with an ampoule placed therein, be-

ing a section on the line i-4 of Figure 1, only certain of the disks being shown.

Figure 5 is a similar enlarged detail view showing similar parts of the carrier, with the ampoule dropping from its pocket or apertures in the carrier after sealing and reaching a point of exit, the chute being broken off; the section being taken upon the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the construction of our invention, we have made it in the form of a comparatively small portable apparatus, to whichits simple elements are well adapted, the example shown in the drawings being a machine of approximately-l6 inches by 12, but any size of apparatus can be chosen, depending .upon the quantity of work and the capacity thereof. We provide a suitable frame I comprising a table, or platform 2, a parallel floor 3, with ends 4 supporting the table 2, which ends do not have to. be solid, and may be corner posts only, The frame is preferably open on all sides, and adapted to rest upon any. surface arranged at any suitable height, for operation. Upon this framework, just above the said table 2, we mount a circular carrier 5, rotatable on or with a small stub shaft; 6, set on a vertical axis in the table 2, and is shown held therein b the nut I.

The carrier consists of a top disk 8, provided with 12 or other number. of apertures 9 each of a size to receive an ampoule vertically inserted, a lower disk ill of like size, a spreader, between the two disks, said spreader being of less diameter than the disks, so as to permit the ampoules to lie around the periphery of the spreader .wh'enfstanding in the apertures 9. The lower disk Ill also is provided with l2 apertures l2 or other number corresponding with the apertures 9, but these apertures l2 do not align perfectly with the-apertures 9 immediately above them, for a purpose to be explained hereinafter,- but are each set slightly advanced, in the directionof rotation. of the carrier, with respect to the aperture directly above. The disk 8, disk l0, and spreader flare all. secured toa locking disk l3, withspreader it between. Thisdisk may be approximatelyhalf the diameter of the upper car-v rier disk 3, though not necessarily, and is provided with a number ofserrations or notches H3 in its edge, corresponding with the number ofampoule apertures 9. At the rear of the machine is located a locking lever 56, preferably spring actuated, with any desired and usual form of spring-rod-handle ll, normally engaging, the edge of the disk l3, and filTtiDg'iDtO its serrations or notches. The carrier assembly thus described, ismounted centrally upon this stub 6, and rests upon ball-bearings is affixed tojthe. table or platform 2 and the several disks and spreaders are secured together by bolts or pins [9 passing through the same. An annular stationary plate 20 surrounds the locking disk l3 and its spreader I4, sufficiently above the disk l3,not to interefere with the working of the locking lever l6. Ata.

snitoblee-peintthestationamplate,zmwhiehzsua Romaine:ampoules;inrthempositioninithesanene tweet Stands s provided. with exit. agestmte lthnneferably of rslightly widerrdiametenthanithe said, all ertimes. .Lancl L2, to. permit. easy; esoane oietheiampeule through said-opening ina theater tionam plate into-a ehutef22lbelow the ,chutehe: n sbizoken ofii and but; nantly shown sinceiit is oil usual form and. max leadato; convenient discharge point. to

Somewhat;- opposite, to; the aperture 2th his the plate ZJJ We-mQuntin-the table PQH-BMZGI-Mfl A 1s,,atdriYe.-pul1ey--213- andv an idle)? 24', withnan elastieand. flexible-belt 2 hsurrounding themuand bfiaitingdrietionallx unonone-or. more on the belt wi11.,.when, in? motion under coreeet, 214151.151?v &

nientrofipower and ,eontacts, not,;,o,n1 .notate amnolilespwith which-it is irr-immediateengase:

merit, but also-rotate the carriercontaining them;

when-thee machine,- is :inimotion as willhhereine 81155613 fully, appear; height; to contact the"; body. I of-,. 5113-: amopules: in: jnxtaposition, to it. Beneath the: table:- 2- .--o1t.-,elselwhen: as: frzmnclx convenient iSr set: an: el'eotrio motor, '2 6 .with -.rie.duotion= gearszz h, which motoris plugged into the nearest electric light onrhowleri mint where v they will: contact. theybelt; the disk: l3-eshouldbe,- lockedl,fi-rst;, If: thisiiisz done-,.;them

sooket. The: details of.- this moton, its-plugg-lits qonnections t0:- the,..-drive= 1311116187,; etci, arernot; shown-.1 hey-i being; of any usua101LdeSiredsfQrmi aesuppliedzfior ueh purposesiasthislmaohinee Ahoyeithe, pulleys are,-loeated: theegasihunnen g andl-is fIIGGgtG tum-"omits ball bearings;;,the;-fri;-r

m nner/med, as usual with a gas/source; le end; aiirbsource,30; all; other details h6ing 0m1tI-fld;8& notwdifiering nrom-I those common-1w The g asehumon hasit torch or. jet directed omllwat, aqfixedigointflatdwhich, amamnonlefwiit bee v brought, to, positioni. for, sealing though oi; course; there; is; not11ing to, nreventh setting itf mgyablyif it.,-is:desiredtQ-do-sm; Qplzosite m'the; gasi-burnen liiris, an air-nozzle. or soume .oizzain' blast- 31, direotedi diagonally! at the: same 'fixechnointtaslthe'gas;bnmeebutatan OPQOSitEtMRKlEL to: cnts-tamtossl, ther direetion ,angle of; the-heats flamezoi the burner. Thisnain nozzleqisesetelowen thanithe .gasburnen. so as: to strikethe neele'orr The, belt is..- arran ed at an set i one of the serrations; an;- ampoule: isE-held;

edieotivelg -nenmmnalls neeessamyy finnetionsiof anlapparatusrasethisi withno more than; the: simple. constnuction above outlineda.

The: oneratiomwill be; readily understoodlbg poules by hands onv by any, of the; apparatusnj theepnesenfeart; Thermoton having; been. plugged the-eggs blast and qair; blast having been sehdesined. the drivepuliey Z-ll willogerahe tesmnethe; beltiin the direction indisatedeby the mews in the. drawings. The carrier-:wilhnoti howeven rotate, .7 since there,- are no; ampoules m the same; Thenampoules having beenldulwfilled on. gently filled; up to. the point. or; leveh desired; are new inserted inf the; apertures or. sockets? 9. inlthezunner diskz8 .,a-nd .dropgeasily into the tunesl;2\. inrthe lower; disk: Ill, amt cometo; rest ugonz therstationaizx plate; It thedrivez nulleg. is-= the: carrier. is. locked; ins-i nosition: against; tnrhing byr letting the. locking lever; 1.8 be engaged withmonetofi the-serrations: at the locking adisk; [3i These; are-so arrangedvrelativelx tmtheonentures 9rancl-r. [2110f theycarrieiz thati Whem saidrzlooking:,;levler I16 is-inv projected position and atzthe rightepoint for sealing; bythetoreh onrbum; nee, and; for: cooling by: theain current. The: amnonles; can be insented illath0fif fif whethen' the-:helit is; runningor not,v but; if; insentedqat 1a;

the: eontaetof, the: belt will; rotate only; they ems-e paulemn ampoules which areiengag ed: frictional-1y, byytheebelte Butwhen thercarrier is.nottloclced:

a this. rotationof; thezampoulesibyg thevlielt; aneL thee-funther: rotation thereby; of; the: carrier; itself; itswill 19811101566; that. upomlocking thec-udiska lis-uwitln the,- 1oekinga 1eye1:: 15;. the. action: air-the:

bgdy qfi the ampoulewhereas thegeshame isetcv beltiwill-sbe, solely the: rotatiom; of 5' theam-puulee bear. 1 2m hei nper. endthereof; Theiusuatstom cooksioithe lass etandmhe .air.,-j etiwilL-ofier sums. client... regulati n, oil. the quantity: and force; on current of; heat and, air. respectivel 5, ,v butsanze dimetly upon its owmverticahaxisxin;the; carriers;

It s been t t eandishownzimtheedmwingse thatethe agerturee 1i; inathedowen diskaliilis-z'ofiset advanced; relatively: to the; aperture i-iIIlHIE-l mane; adjpstment means. may be; added if; mdiatelg above it-=in thmunpenrdisk '8", beingssete QQSIIQLL fonwazdsintthe diIECtiOIlxOf traveltof; the: belt:

Itwillhe observed. that;weido-notiproyid ge The amounttofethisofiset is notzneoessarily greatlz: anat'emeansjpr rotatingthe carrier, independent. Itomax; lam-fives degrees .fronnthewerticalior even oil'the. means for, rotating. the ampoulesiwhile less. Itswobjeet chiefl'yrto holdithe ampouledm sealing them, as is customary, in.a 'l oarnl'nseofgthiscr its' noeket. o1: soeketyformed "by; theztwoenearlys' haracter, n ice-water. sources. for. chillinepthe alienedeaperturesialandilie, Without; thissofiset; carrieniby fluid; of '..low temperaturebathing;thee there iseaetendency of theebelts;frictiomtorliit-z biase of'l he. amponlesi thereby, no mechanism the amnouleiont oiiitspoeket,butxwiththisoflhets fpr esta blishing uniformllimii forsubmittingreaoh exnedient theamnoulewemains properly in 'sitn. amgqule to the process of;sealing .andgautomat&-.- age-'Bhim-lif-finaefi'eet islepresentiwheneth-e carrier ioallxu nhmi tine another one atthe; instantie-thee loekem ranchonly the: ampoulenrotatedn Italsmise time is up f or: the preceding; amnoule; no man Rhesent. when the carrier is released: fill'dgiSibfiiIlfi hinery for. applying; atlan instantioi P13393111? rotatedz;bx--.the vbeltthronghi the instrpumentalityi'ang edlheat-shutoffi,fixedjdevices, for...op erating on thesamnoules, andlnotionlyis the oifseheffe mechanically, upon the, ton QILtheamQQ IeWithe m-timstoa-holdthe: amnoule aeainstslifting; bntzite prearranged;applienees, ior, completingtheseale ogexaztesf torpressliti further; down: 1111705131185 pocket-i abx, automatic. grinning of, the amnmile-torrg,- ancblikewisemassist; the.;-rota.tion:of: the: carrierbig a sy tem oi; machineryl-idesignesirtoi exeonte: underethedriotion:of=:the;belt upomtheeampoulee hattactionh We.believeswhenlthesmodeoiloneizesuntaoess. number.- of; ampoules. contactede aiilmnoionr mnchineis studied; itnvv;i1l..-,ma seem m simnltaneouslwbmthezbelt; dependi larselis upon the location of the pulleys and belt -rel-' atively to the segment'of the carrier disks coming within their influence. Obviously, the more ampoules contacted, the more rotatory power present; yet with good" ball bearings, the carrier herein shown and described will rotate under belt-impact upon even one ampoule.

The essence of our invention is that we first eliminate all the old-style mechanisms that made the carrier rotate by connecting gears and the like from motor to carrier, and all the separate vertical shafts, one for each ampoule to be rotated, all the holders to rotate said ampoules, the rollers or other devices which not only required much motor power and gears to produce such rotation of the" carrier, but also in themselves actually exercised a restraint or brake upon the said rotation of the carriers free movement of itself. By freeing the carrier initially of these restraints, we have found that said carrier; on its ball bearings, can be spun by a finger-touch of the hand, and therefore the actual power to operate it then becomes very little. Then by locating the ampoules in the pockets of the carrier directly, with the belt gripping the exteriors of the ampoules above the line of the pockets as shown, and the lower part of said exteriors gripping the inside of the said pockets, it is really only necessary to apply such power to one or two ampoules to impart adequate carrier motion while the machine is unchecked by the spring locking stop, and when the machine is empty of ampoules, there can be no motion of the carrierby the operation of the motor, there being no connection between the motor and said carrier until the ampoules are inserted in the carrier to'becontacted by the belt. It will be noted by reference to Figure 4 of the drawings, that the ampoules are not always or Wholly perpendicular in the recesses in the carrier, but by reason of the offset or advancement of said recess in the direction of travel of the belt and the carrier, there results a slight diagonal incline of the upper end of the ampoule in that same direction, which tends to lock the bottom of the ampoule against the side of the recess or pocket. This not only provides the necessary friction and leverage of the ampoule against one side of the pocket interiorly, but it enables us at the same time to insert and remove the ampoules freely, since they do not become stuck in said pockets, neither loose enough to be pulled out.

With this manner of operation of the carrier understood, we will now proceed to the actual sealing. The ampoules being filled, and the car rier locked by the lever IS, a given ampoule stands in its pocket at a point where the gas flame and the air current will both strike it at the portions thereof designed to receive them. The belt rotates the ampoule upon its own axis, and the air current from the nozzle 3| plays upon its neck or main body, in fact has already been doing so perhapsas the carrier was rotated to bring the ampoule into place, or while a preceding ampoule was being sealed, and the present one awaiting its turn. This air current maintains a required temperature low enough to ensure against ill effects in sealing previously mentioned,

but not so low as to create too great a differential of heat and cold which might induce brittleness;

The operator turns on the proper flame from the gas burner, which heats the upper end of the ampoule all around as it rotates, and sufiiciently softens the glass to render it pliable and sealable. The operatorot long experience knows-the right condition from the color of the heated glass top, and the newer operator soon learns to detect this after a few trials perhaps of empty ampoules or under guidance. The moment this condition ap pears, he seizes the top of the ampoule with the usual grippers or form of pliers customarily employed in hand sealing, and holds the said top of the ampoule while it is still being rotated by the belt, for just the necessary few seconds to let the rotating ampoule top twist around on itself, completing the sealing operation, effected automatically by such rotation under the gripping; in which action usually a small fragment of glass is twisted off and discarded. Immediately, the operator pulls out the locking lever I6, releasing the carrier, and the belt rotates the carrier to withdraw the sealed ampoule from the flame (which can be turned off or away-if desired, or left on for the instantly following sealing of the approaching ampoule) and when the new ampoule is in position, the operator releases the lever, locks the carrier again, and repeats the operation upon said next ampoule. The process of sealing a number of ampoules in quick succession may be carried on without interruption, and without shutting off the burner and nozzle, as fast as desired, within the limits of the actual time needed for the heating, twisting, releasing, and within the efiiciency of th operator.

While the second ampoule is heating, the sealed ampoule which has been under the cooling infiuence of the air current from'the nozzle 3|, which counterbalances any conduction of heat from the burner and warm ampoule-top to the contents, soon becomes cool enough to be handled or removed. The importance of this air current is considerable and vital. Without it, the body of the ampoule would get hot, the contents possibly damaged, perhaps vaporized and a bubble set up in the neck of the ampoule or in the top being softened and sealed, which is a very frequent cause of spoilage and rejects, as stated. It also avoids the need for cold-water currents in the carrier body, which require mechanism for continuing the flow thereof, means for icing the same, constantly, and make a rather sloppy job of the sealing, particularly where, as in our invention, a rubber belt is employed in contact with the ampoules, which would have a tendency to make the belt slippery and impair the operation. It is also important that this air current, which has not been employed as a cooler during heating and fusing in devices of this class, should be arranged as we have it, beneath the gas blast and from an opposite angle, and directedat the neck of the ampoule, with the gas blast centered on the apex thereof; though minor variation of the arrangement may doubtless be quite possible without disadvantage.

After the ampoule is sealed, and in the rotation of the carrier, conveyed further away from the sealing point, it quickly cools and may, in our apparatus, either be removed by hand, lifted out and placed in a receptacle, or it may be allowed to travel to the point'where the exit aperture 2| is made in the stationary plate 20, and to drop into the chute there provided. As fast as the sealed ampoules are removed from the carrier, the operator replaces them with others needing sealing, and so the operation of the machine may continue uninterruptedly, until all the ampoules required are taken care of. We do not however, confine ourselves completely to this novel device of two alternative exit or removal means, and we may make our machine with one or other of these expedients, or with both, as shown and herein described.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for sealing ampoules, of the class in which a rotatable carrier conveys the partly filled ampoules to a point of sealing where a heat means fuses and permits the sealing; which comprises .a circular carrier constructed and arranged to be initially and primarily free to spin and turn without restraint while empty of ampoules provided with pockets in its periphery for holding the ampoules in a vertical position, a heat means to which the carrier conveys said ampoules for sealing a single, rotating means for simultaneously by the one single rotating means free of any extra mechanism rotating the ampoules :by direct contact of said means with the outer surface of an ampoule or ampoules contained in that portion or segment of the carrier which is contiguous to the heating means, and also through the instrumentality of said ampoules then being rotated which frictionally engage the sides of the pockets, and which are carried along by and with the said rotating means, rotating the carrier itself without separate mechanism therefor, whereby only the ampoule or ampoules .contiguous to the heat means and sealing point are rotated, and whereby the said carrier is rotated only at the timecwhen it contains ampoules "therein; and means for momentarily stopping the carrier when an ampoule, desired to be sealed is directly at the sealing point, and. thereby applying whatever power of the rotating means has been theretofore rotating both the ampoule and the carrier, into faster or stronger rotation of the ampoule while being submitted to the heat means, for greater uniformity and ease of sealing.

2. A machine for sealing ampoules which comprises a rotatable carrier constructed and ar ranged to be initially and primarily free tospin and turn while empty of ampoules having pockets therein for containing the ampoules, a heat means to which the carrier conveys the ampoules for sealing a single rotating means for rotating single rotating means free of any extra mechanism the ampoules when contiguous to the heat means and sealing point and for rotating thereby through the instrumentality of such ampoule-rotation, the carrier holding said ampoules,

the said rotating means consisting of a driven friction-belt located adjacent the sealing point, which belt engages the outer surface of an ampoule or ampoules and frictionally rotates the same upon its own vertical axis, and concomitantly through said ampoule-rotation rotates the carrier; by friction of said ampoule upon the sides of the pocket containing it; and means for momentarily stopping the carrier when an ampoule to be sealed reaches the sealing point, while the belt is still running, andthereby apply what, ever power of the belt has been previously rotating both the carrier and the ampoule, intocarrier .as a sealing point, and a single driving instrumentality located between said heat means and carrier, for concomitantly and also alternatively rotating the ampoules by direct contact therewith and only as they approach and reach 7 the said sealing point and are conveyed away therefrom, consisting of ,a driven friction-belt arranged to contact the outer surface of one or more of the contained ampoules and axially rotate the same, and thereby through said ampoule-rotation and its friction with the sides of the pockets, rotate the carrier solely through said engagement with said outer surface of said ampoule or ampoules contiguous thereto and through said friction with the insides of the pockets, whereby the said carrier is carried along with said ampoules as they turn within the pockets, without the aid of any impact upon or contact of any rotating means with the carrier itself or any part thereof, and whereby the said instrumentality does not rotate either said carrier or any part thereof until the ampoules are inserted in the pockets contiguous to the sealing structed and arranged to be the sole operative means for both rotating the ampoules and for rotating the carrier, through the instrumentality of said ampoules, and consisting of a driven friction-belt adapted and arranged to contact the ampoule or ampoules contiguous to said sealing point, of a rotatable carrier provided with j pockets to contain the ampoules, located atthe periphery of .said carrier so that-the friction belt contacts the outer surface of saidarnpoule or ampoules, to axially rotate the same and the pockouter surface of the ampoule will seat it further ;,-into the pocket, and give it a greater frictional hold upon the inside of the pocket whereby more effectively to cause the rotated ampoule to rotate the carrier under the power of the belt.

5. A machine for sealing ampoules which comprises in its construction-a rotatable carrier hav- 3 ing pockets at its periphery for containing ampoules, a sealing means to which the carrier is arranged to convey the ampoules, a single means for rotating the ampoules by direct contact of the same upon the ampoules and through said rotation of the ampoules causing the rotation of theentire carrier by friction .of the ampoules withthe insides of the pockets therein, and consisting of a driven friction-belt in engagement with the outer surface of the ampoules to rotate the same axially and also the carrier; the pockets ampoule'in said pocket, seats the same further into the said pocket, prevents its rising, and also better rotates the carrier the pockets being formed integrally in and part of the said carrier,

6. .A machine for sealing ampoules which com '75 prises in its construction, sealing means, a driven 11 friction belt near the point of sealing, a rotatable carrier provided with pockets therein to receive the ampoules. in vertical position to be rotated b contact of the friction belt with the exterior thereof; the said belt being in contact with the exterior of an ampoule or ampoules to rotate said ampoules and through the said rotation of said ampoules causing the rotation of the entire carrier by friction of the ampoules with the insides of the pockets therein the said 7 pockets being offset at bottom relatively to the top, whereby the belt seats them securely in said pockets while rotating; the said pockets being formed integrally in and part of the said carrier. and the friction belt being the sole rotating means of the machine, and. operatin to turn the carrier solely through the turning of the ampoules.

7. A machine for sealing ampoules of the class in which a rotatable carrier conveys the ampoules to a place of sealing, a heat means directed at the tops of the ampoules, a rotatable carrier provided with pockets for the ampoules, a single operative means for simultaneously rotating the ampoules and thereby the carrier without separate means for either and without intervening additional mechanism consisting of a single driving belt contacting solely the outside siu'faces of the ampoules, and directly contacting those ampoules which are contiguous to the sealing place and thereby rotate the carrier as well as the ampoules contacted and seat said ampoules frictionally in engagement with the sides of the pockets inside, and cause them to carry the carrier along and around with said belt to bring the contacted ampoules to the sealing place, and a cooling air nozzle near the sealing place, directed at a point below the tops of the ampoules being heated and sealed, and adapted to play a current of cool air against the necks of the ampoules while the heat means is acting upon the tops, to intercept said heat blast at said neck of the ampoule being sealed and prevent the heat from expanding or otherwise afl'ecting the contents of the same, and causing air bubbles in said neck and the sealed top of the ampoule.

8. A machine for sealing ampoules, which comprises the combination of a rotatable carrier having pockets to receive the ampoules in vertical position, and adapted to convey the ampoules to a point of sealing; a driven friction-belt located at the point of sealing, and arranged to contact the outer surface of one or more ampoules at and near the said point of sealing and rotate the same axially while being sealed, and also rotate the carrier which conveys them there and away; and separate heat means and air blast means arranged near the sealing point. both above the said friction-belt and both directed at the same ampoule; the heat blast being directed at the tops of the ampoules to fuse the same, and the air blast being directed at a point below the heat blast and approximately at the neck of the ampoule then. being heated and sealed, whereb to intercept the heat current at said neck, and prevent or counterbalance its heating effect extending injuriously or excessively to the said neck and lower main body of the ampoule while being sealed; the said pockets being formed inte rally lnand part of the said carrier, and the friction belt being the sole rotating means of the machine, and operating to turn the carrier solely through the turning of the ampoules.

9. A machine for sealing ampoules which comprises in its construction a rotatable carrier formed of an upper circular disk provided with apertures in its periphery, a spreader of reduced diameter beneath the same to allow the ampoules to enter said apertures, a lower disk corresponding to the upper disk and provided with similar apertures almost aligning with the ones in the upper disk, but appreciably offset and advanced in the direction of rotation of said carrier, a locking diskof reduced diameter below said lower disk, with spreader between, and serrated upon its periphery in such arrangement as to be spaced to hold the ampoule being sealed at the sealing point, a locking lever adapted to engage said disk and enter one of said serrations so as to hold said carrier at the exact position for maintaining an ampoule at the sealing point, and a stationary bottom plate on which the ampoules rest, said carrier being mounted upon a vertical shaft to rotate horizontally, and-provided with suitable exit means for discharging the ampoules or removing the same after seala driven friction-belt located at one side of the carrier to operate in connection with a segment thereof, and bearing upon the outer base of one or more ampoules of said segment to turn them axially in their pockets and also through their instrumentality rotate the carrier to convey them to the sealing point when the locking lever is out of engagement with the serrations of the locking disk, and, when said carrier is locked stationary by said lever, to rotate more speedily or effectively the ampoule being sealed, whereby when it is gripped by the operator at its fused top and rotated b said belt axially, it will twist and seal; and separate heat means and air nozzle mounted above said belt, the heat blast being directed at the top of the ampoule being sealed, and the air nozzle being directed v at the neck of the same ampoule to keepthe lower body, neck and contents of the ampoule cool while being sealed; the said pockets being formed integrally in and part of the said carrier, and the friction belt being the sole rotating means of the machine, and operating to turn the carrier solely through the turning of the 2111- poules.

10. A machine for sealing ampoules, which comprises in its construction an ampoule-conveying carrier formed with an upper disk provided with apertures, a lower disk similarly apertured but not exactly aligned with the apertures above, being offset or advanced in the direction of travel of the carrier sufiiciently to allow the axial rotation of the ampoule to seat it more securely in the carrier-apertures in the two disks,

reduced spreaders between the disks and beneath 1 the same, a reduced locking disk peripherally serrated, and a stationary bottom plate, the carrier being mounted upon a vertical shaft inside the stationary plate; a locking lever under control of the operator to stop the carrier by engaging the locking disk; a single driving instrumentality consisting .of a driven friction belt bearing upon the exterior of one or more of the ampoules located in contiguity with the carrier and arranged to contact the outer faces of the ampoules adjacent the same and both axially rotate the ampoule contacted and when the carrier is free of the locking lever also rotate the same solely through the rotation of the ampoule or two disks, and continue to rotate the ampoule set at the sealing point when the carrier is lockedama eur:

and air cooling means directing a current of, air

upon the neck of the ampoule simultaneously"; the said pockets beingformed integrally 1n and part of.ythe said carrier, and: the friction belt being the sole, rotating means ofthe machine, and operating to turn the carrier solely through the;tur,ning of the ampoules.

i1, Amachine for sealing ampoules of theclass in which a rotating carrier conveys the ampoules to a heat means for sealing them, which comprises a rotatable carrier adapted to receive ampoules in vertical position; means for holding said carrier stationary at the control of the operator, said carrier being adapted to be rotated normally when the operator releases said holding means; a single instrumentality power-driving means consisting of a driven friction belt bearing upon the exterior of one or more of the ampoules adapted by contact with the surface of the ampoule or ampoules contiguous thereto not only to axially rotate the ampoule or ampoules when the carrier is locked by the operator, but also when the carrier is unlocked, to rotate said carrier through the same contact of the driving means upon the surface of the ampoule or ampoules; and heat means directed at the top of the ampoule and air cooling means directed simultaneously upon the neck of the same ampoule; the said pockets being formed integrally in and part of the said carrier, and the friction belt being the sole rotating means of the machine, and operating to turn the carrier solely through the turning of the ampoules.

12. A machine for sealing ampoules, comprising a heat means, a rotatable carrier having apertures forming pockets for ampoules, means for holding said carrier stationary at the control of the operator; a single instrumentality driving means consisting of a driven friction belt bearing upon the exterior of one or more of the ampoules adapted by contact with the surface of the ampoule or ampoules to axially rotate the ampoule not only when the carrier is stationary. but also when it is unlocked, to rotate the carrier through the same contact of the belt upon the ampoule; and means whereby the frictional engagement of the belt upon said ampoulesurface will seat it further into its pocket and give it a greater frictional hold upon the inside of the said pocket, to better rotate said carrier and prevent rising of the ampoule in said pocket.

13. A machine for sealing ampoules, comprising a sealing table equipped with heat source, a rotatable carrier formed with peripheral recesses directly in said carrier, each formed and shaped and sized to have ampoules fitted directl into them without the aid or intervention or addition of any secondary devices whereby to be engaged frictionally with the insides of said recesses sufficiently to turnthe said carrier by gripping the exteriors of the ampoules and imparting a thrust to the same; a power source equipped with pulleys connected therewith, and normally unconnected with said carrier, the said carrier being freely spun or turned by the finger, unrestrained by any mechanism; the pulleys being connected by a friction-belt mounted contiguous to the sealing means and out of contact with any and every part of the carrier or mechanical adjunct thereof, while the machine is empty of ampoules; the said belt being after the ampoules are inserted in the recesses, in frictional contact solely with the exterior of an ampoule or ampoules located,

re inithe dinectioneofatraveli ofsaid'ibelt, on to-L-the-sealing. means ofi' the machine: whereby first'fitoirotate onlythe ampoule or ampoules contiguous to and .so approaching; said seaiing means, :and' secondly;solely-through saidytricetional contact with the-exterior of' said -amiiouiieo: and the frictional contact of the bottoms of said ampoules wtih theinsidesor the-recesses directly in the said carrier, cause the mere rotation of said ampoule or ampoules in their pockets to impart a translatory rotatory motion to the carrier; stop means of suitable form to check the carrier at will at the point of sealing; the whole machine being automatically normally unoperated and self-stopping as to said rotation 01" the carrier, whenever the carrier is empty of am poules therein. 14. A machine for sealing ampoules, comprising a sealing means, a power means,- a rotatable ampoule carrier the said carrier being freely spun or turned on its own bearings by a finger touch; a pair of pulleys with a friction-belt upon them, mounted contiguous to the sealing means, and unconnected with any part of the carrier or its mechanism, and constructed and arranged to rier recesses, for tipping the ampoules to a slight I angle in said recesses, to frictionally engage them more firmly therein against pulling out, and also grip the said carrier as they rotate therein and carry it with the belt.

15. In a machine for sealing ampoules of the class described, a rotatable ampoule ,carrier, 9. power means normally wholly unconnected with said carrier and unable to rotate it, a pair of pulleys with a friction-belt around them, also unconnected with any part of the carrier or its mechanism and unable to rotate it while empty of ampoules, and contacting directly the exterior surfaces of an ampoule or ampoules contiguous to and approaching the sealing means, and simultaneously rotating said ampoule or ampoules and also through their friction with the carrier bod in such rotation drive the carrier body along plish said dual rotation by one fneans.

16. In a machine for sealing ampoules of the class described, a rotatable ampoule carrier, a power means normally wholly unconnected with said carrier and thereby unable to rotate it, a pair of pulleys with a friction-belt around them, also unconnected with any part of the carrier or its mechanism and unable to rotate it while empty of ampoules, and contacting directly the exterior surfaces of an ampoule or ampoules contiguous to and approaching the sealing means, and simultaneously rotating said ampoule or ampoules and also through their friction with the carrier in such rotation drive the carrier along with the belt without any separate rotating means or parts added to the carrier to accomplish such dual rotation by one means; the said carrier being provided with-recesses in its body in which the ampoules fit and in fitting grip the inside of the said recess and thereb the body of' The following references are of record in the 16 REFERENCES CITED file of this patent:

51 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,862,821 Henderson June 14, 1932 1,967,766 DeLano Jul 24, 1934 7 2,051,764 Erdmann et a1 Aug. 18, 1936 2,168,509 Bennett Aug. 8, was 

